Shams Charania:

The Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 11 are retiring the No. 1 jersey of Muggsy Bogues, the shortest player in NBA history at 5-foot-3. Bogues spent 10 of his 14 NBA seasons in Charlotte (1988-1998) and is the franchise leader in assists, steals and minutes.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/17bf3c8442dc4

Jalen Brunson in the first half: 11 Points on 1/10 FG and 9/10 FT

Haram ball by Brunson

https://www.espn.com/nba/game?gameId=401909878

THEY HAVE NOT DONE THIS SINCE THEY HAD A SQUAD THAT HAD DAMIAN LILLARD, LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE AND MICAH NORI IS THE FIRST HEAD COACH FOR PORTLAND TO START 3-0 IN HIS FIRST SEASON AS HEAD COACH

Lol I love Josh Hart

Former NBA star Paul Pierce said he's "tapped out" financially after losing his job with Fox Sports. The athlete also said he's struggled to keep up with court-ordered payments to his ex-wife and his children.

Paul Pierce has been in the headlines for the last year. Beyond his public dealings with his ex, the NBA champion faced pushback in October 2025 after he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

A source told TMZ that Pierce is "tapped out" and can no longer afford his hefty monthly payments to his ex-wife and children.

Court documents claim Pierce used to receive $119,000 a month from Fox Sports; however, he received his last check in August, and now his monthly income is zero.

Paul said he pays close to $30,000 per month in child support and another $20,000 per month in spousal support.

Additionally, Pierce spends nearly $50,000 a month in bills, including close to $10,000 in childcare, $5,000 in groceries, $7,000 on eating out, $3,200 on utilities, $1,000 on clothes, $3,500 on entertainment, and "various other expenses."

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nba-star-paul-pierce-makes-121000270.html

“Alex Caruso, their veteran guard, he actually sprained his ankle on Monday, and we know with sprained ankles, especially how nasty his looked, there’s going to be some level of time he is likely going to be missing as well.”

Post Game Thread

Line Score

Team Stats

Box Score

Latest story from Vorkunov here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7723134/2026/10/26/nba-kalshi-polymarket-agreement-prediction-markets/?unlocked_article_code=1.LlE.iiML.mVE9wtzpj4vu&source=emp_shared_article&smid=url-share-ta

Malik Beasley, a nine-year NBA veteran, has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges stemming from a Department of Justice investigation into illegal sports gambling, his attorney told The Athletic. He will plead on Dec. 9 in Brooklyn.

Portland’s offense keeps cooking early in the season

https://www.nba.com/game/por-vs-lal-0022600131/box-score

Karl-Anthony Towns in the win: 27 PTS, 20 REB, 3 AST, 62%TS

Great game by KAT and overall great start to the season for him individually, Knicks get their first win of the season.

Shams Charania:

Toronto's Kawhi Leonard is expected to miss a period of weeks due to swelling in his left knee, sources tell ESPN. MRI on Leonard's knee showed no structural damage, but sides will use the shorter term to ramp him back up after the stoppages during the offseason.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/6ae0f86655352

First 5 years he was a near iron man playing in 443 out of 462 available games (playoffs included). 95.9%

Then missed 23 games (playoffs included) last season.

With this new injury if he’s back by the Christmas game that’s 25 games missed.

It unfortunate that he’ll miss out on an all NBA team for the 2nd straight year.

Jokic acknowledged that the Nuggets have been dealing with similar issues since last season and said he was not surprised by their early struggles.

The three-time MVP suggested that improving defensively will require more than minor adjustments, as Denver has yet to establish consistency on that end of the floor.

When asked which areas needed the most attention ahead of the team’s upcoming road trip, Jokic gave a brief assessment.

“To be honest, everything. We cannot defend,” he stressed.

https://www.talkbasket.net/225567-nikola-jokic-admits-nuggets-cannot-defend-after-warriors-loss

More updates from Krawczynski: https://bsky.app/profile/jonkrawczynski.bsky.social

Anthony Edwards will have surgery on Thursday, after which there will be a better idea on the timeline for recovery, I'm told. As of now, the belief is it's going to be more than two months.

______________

An absolutely brutal hit for the Timberwolves who were firing on all cylinders.